The latest figures from the Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI), published in July, reveal that total value sales by builders’ merchants across Great Britain were up +14.8% compared to the same month in 2021, driven more by rising prices (+17.8%) than volume sales which were down -2.5% year-on-year.

All categories sold more in May 2022 compared to the previous year, with kitchens and bathrooms increasing the most (+29.7%). Six other categories fared better than merchants including plumbing, heating and electrical (+21.6%), heavy building materials (+20.6%) and decorating (+16.5%). Timber and joinery products (+6.8%) grew more slowly. Like-for-like sales were 9.1% higher.

Compared to May 2019, a more normal pre-pandemic year, total merchant value sales were 23.9% higher with one fewer trading day in the most recent period. All categories sold more, including renewables and water saving (+50.8%), timber and joinery products (+36.8%) and landscaping (+33%). Like-for-like sales were up +30.1%, while price inflation hit +30% and volumes were down -4.7%.

Total sales in the three months from March to May 2022 were +7.8% up on the same period last year with no difference in trading days. All categories bar landscaping (-3.9%) sold more. Kitchens and bathrooms was up the most (+23.6%) while timber and joinery products (+5.3%) was among the categories growing more slowly.

Month-on-month, total merchant sales were +8.7% up in May compared to April 2022, with one more trading day this year. All categories sold more, including timber and joinery products (+7.4%). Like-for-like sales were +3.3% up.

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The Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI)

The BMBI is a brand of the BMF. The BMBI report, which is produced and managed by MRA Research, uses GfK’s Builders Merchant Point of Sale Tracking Data which analyses sales out data from over 80% of generalist builders’ merchants’ sales across Great Britain. The full report is on www.bmbi.co.uk.